Man's 'bucket list' surprises good samaritans

A man dressed in hoodie asking people for help ended up giving away 50 letters containing $1,000.

December 31, 2013 5:28:32 PM PST

DES MOINES, Iowa --

Rob Taylor of Johnstown, Iowa spotted a man at an intersection on Christmas Eve. He rolled down the window and handed the man some money. To his surprise the man handed him back a note, with a $10 bill inside.

"Merry Christmas and thank you for your very kind and thoughtful donation. I live in Des Moines but am not homeless or destitute or without a job," said Taylor, reading from the note.

A man in the hoodie, standing in the freezing conditions, wasn't homeless. But a Des Moines businessman, named Jonnie Wright, who wanted to do something good for Christmas.

He ended up giving away 50 letters containing $1,000. He also donated the money he received to a local emergency shelter.

"This has been a bucket list thing for me for some time, and I've always known that I wanted to give back. I thought this was also a good way to acknowledge people who give. Who do so anonymously," said Wright.

The two men got the chance to meet Monday, each to say thank you. Wright says, while most of the envelopes contained $10, some had $100 bills inside.

One ended up going to a woman who told Wright she only had $16 to her name and didn't know how she was going to buy her children Christmas presents.